Palette's POV

Okay Palette, this is your first time in an actual world with life! With people! You have to blend in! Go!

I run as quickly as I can from the portal I made, summoning away my paint roller. I get out of the forest and find a village. I gaze at it in awe. It was bright, colorful with life and people! People were there! I run into the village, pausing in the center of it to just take in the sights. The tall buildings, the colorful sky and grassy green ground. All the sounds of people talking or laughing all jumbled together with a breeze bringing the sweet smells of flowers or baked goods. I smile even wider.

I am never going back!

Some kids bump into me and I step back in surprise. They were all different kinds of monsters from snakes to dinos and bird-like kinds.

I can blend in with them!

"Hi! I'm Palette! What's your names?"I ask them

"We're going to school. Out of the way."One says

Such weird names! But I'm not one to judge!

I chuckle and follow them eagerly.

"Really? So am I! I think I'm new here!"I say

They shoot each other glances and shake their heads.

"Okay, nerd. If you love school so much you can come."Another says

Already got a nickname!

I happily skip along to the school and stop when they do.

"Now we just wait to go inside."They say

I glance up at the tall brick building with windows shining in the morning light. Windows were decorated with stickers or crafted papers into shapes and that only makes me even more eager to go inside.

Then I dark shadow cast over us as the other kids talked. They caught onto it and scattered, one pulling me aside.

"What's going on? Why did it get so dark?"I ask

"Raven came."They say

Ooo! I always wanted to see what those birds looked like!

I see a skeleton boy land with dark black wings like a raven's. He wore grey clothes and dark pants with shoes as well as a long black scarf with skeleton clip at the collar. His eye glows a bright red and blue from one eye. He marches through the crowd of kids with a girl covered in scales beside him.

"Of course Jess is with them. Snitch."One says

They start to whisper amongst themselves but go quiet under the gaze of those two. I feel my jaw hang open, amazed at how they had such an influence over the kids here. They all parted. I step forward curiously.

"Hey, I'm n-!"I begin, then feel something bump into me

I glance down and see a hedgehog bump into my foot while a black panther had its head in my side. They both back up and look at me.

"Ooo! You both look magnificent!"I say

The hedgehog squeaks at my compliment while the panther rolls its eyes.

"Out of the way, kid. We have kids to guard."The panther says

"Hey! Don't be so rude! This kid is actually nice!"The hedgehog says

"Yea, so were they. We're here to prevent that again, remember? Sorry kid but it's best you back up."The panther says

I smile and nod.

"Okay!"I say, hopping back

I watch them go after the two kids that were parting the crowd, followed by four more hedgehogs and two more panthers. I smile, finding it sweet that they were so protective of those kids. Then I see another stranger walk by and feel my soul soar.

I couldn't see his face from under his white hood and vibrant scarf. He kept his head low and wore a small cloak-like jacket with shorts and shoes. He had these bright white wings and just seemed to shine unlike the other boy who seemed to be a dark cloud rumbling in.

That's an angel.....Wow....

Something in me sparked and I just knew that he is special. I had to get to know him, befriend him, just be with him...It just felt right.

"Hey, who is that angel?"I ask the kid beside me

"Angel? Him? Hah! He's the end of your social life, that's what!"He replies

"What's a social life?"I ask

The group shake their heads.

"Trust me, you don't want to get involved with him. He's death itself. Well, the son of Death."They say, pointing behind us

I see two adults standing together and watching the angel go inside. They looked like complete opposites. One wore a dark black cloak with wings sprouting from behind him. The ground beneath him  died away and he just seemed like a shadow of darkness. Much like that Raven boy. Beside him was a skeleton dressed in whit clothes and black shorts with a vibrant red scarf, just like the angel I saw. One of his eyes was covered in glitches and the ground still lived under his feet. He held a girl beside him. Telling by the girl's resemblance, she is their daughter. Ironically, the darker parent of the two was the more energetic or brighter of the two. He affectionately kissed the other on the head while the other parent stared ahead. Then the shadow flew away.

Such loving parents...A great family....

I smile wider as I just watch the father holding his daughter close. His gaze unsettled everyone around me obviously, making them shudder. But when my gaze met his, I didn't feel anything. I smile wider and wave. This clearly confuses him as he glares at me more but I brushed it off.

"Hi! Your daughter's cute!"I call out to him

He looks shocked and confused by my actions, then shakes his head and leaves.

I shrug it off and go inside with the other kids. The teacher looked bewildered when I entered the classroom. She clears her throat and grabs my hand.

"Well class....It seems we have a new kid. Give your name and an introduction about you."The teacher says

"Hi! I'm Palette! I like arts and exploring! Umm, I don't know much else but excited to see!"I say

I spot the angel but not Raven anywhere in the room. The angel was a few rows back all by himself. I smile, waving to him. He hides his face in a book.

"Okay, why don't you sit with Goth? Goth, wave so he can spot you."The teacher says

The angel waves his hand.

So that's his name!

I smile wider after the teacher gave me some notebooks, extra paper and writing tools and sent me to my new seat. I sit beside Goth and follow the lessons, though I will admit to focusing on other subjects. I start doodling, glancing at Goth. Now I could finally see his eyes from beneath the hood. Well, his single white eye-light. The panthers lay under his seat and the hedgehogs sat on his desk. I sketch out a quick portrait of him with a friendly greeting like:"Hi! How are you?" before passing it to him. The hedgehogs catch it and look at it, mumbling amongst themselves. That got his attention and he takes it from them. He looks at it and tucks it in his pocket. That encouraged me to do more. I made more doodles and ask more questions, trying to get an answer from him. Favorite color? Season, time of day, constellation? Activity or hobby? Animal since he has a few around him? Subject? Just whatever I could think of to prompt a conversation or response. Each one got more detail than the last, not all of them of him but random objects like a tree or cube to show some skill. I'd also compliment him in the note so if he doesn't reply, it could improve his day. The hedgehogs seem happy to look through the notes but after a few more went to him, Goth finally looks at me. I smile proudly, getting what I was looking for. Interaction!

"Enough with the notes! What do you want from me?"He asks, whispering

"Friendship!"I reply with a smile

"More like an end to your social life!"He says

"What's that and why do people keep saying that?"I ask

He laughs quietly, covering his mouth to muffle it. His smile....his laugh....is wonderful.

"You have a nice laugh."I comment

He pauses, looking at me before hiding in his scarf again.

"Leave me alone. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor."He says

I sigh, nodding. Though I didn't understand, I know better than to cross his boundaries.

Even if it hurt. Those words were too familiar to me, but I can't change it.

"O-okay. But I hope you like the notes."I say

I go back to reading the textbook but then one of the hedgehogs crawl onto my page.

"He's being honest. He's just trying to protect you."It whispers

"Protect me from what?"I whisper

It shakes its head.

"Can't say...It's just hard for him to let in friendly faces because of it. So, where are you from?"It asks

"Nowhere."I reply

It laughs.

"I'm serious. And that's all I'm willing to say."I say

Then a bell rang and the class rushed off to what they call "lunch-time". I follow the crowd and reach what they call a cafeteria. I hop onto the lunch-line with a tray and look around at the tables of kids. I see Goth with Jess and Raven as well as a few other kids. I walk through the cafeteria, feeling the tables stare at me and hear them whisper. They questioned why I was near Goth or so friendly to him but also where I came from and why'd I even come here. Why do I exist and that turns to insults that I heard easily.

I shake the voices away and know nobody wants me to join them. I find an empty table and take out my journal as I ate. I sketched out my day so far and smile as I scratch out the negative notes. This is meant to make me feel good after all. I sketch out the designs of Goth and the people I've seen, writing down my thoughts or questions. I come to an easy conclusion and promise.

"I will find a way to befriend him. He's been hurt somehow and may not trust me but I'll earn it. I promise to find a way."

Hours later was the end of the school day. Class was dismissed and I watch my classmates run to their parents eagerly. I watch Goth and Raven return to their parent, still holding the little girl close. They each get a hug and a kiss on the head. Comfort, security, a warm welcome and plenty of love evident here. My soul begged for that but I held my control.

I don't need parents to be happy. I'll find my own happiness and love myself.

Their father looks over at me and sees that nobody has come for me. I wave to him, forcing a smile. A confused stare was all I got before he leads his sons away with the animals close behind them.

"I'll walk home..."I tell the teacher

I walk into a nearby forest, simply wandering around. I find a tall tree with a carving in it. There was one big heart with the names Geno+Reaper in it but then it branched out to three smaller hearts. Each heart had a name inside it. Goth. Raven. Shino.

So this is their family tree....I'm going to the other side of the forest.

I run to the other side of the forest, thinking it'd be weird for them to find me by their tree. I summon my roller as I reach a clearing. With a few swishes and strokes, I made my own shelter. I look to the tree beside my new home and grin. I carve my name inside it and feel something land on my shoulder. An adorable parakeet nuzzles up to my cheek, chirping.

"Hi....Oh! I'm sorry! Is this your tree? I'm sorry if I disturbed your family!"I say

"I don't have one."It says

"That makes two of us."I say

"What's your name?"He asks

"Palette. You?"I ask

"Pakeekee! Could we be lonely together?"He chirps

I nod. I carve his name into the tree. Then I go inside.

TBC